Over 1,000 hurt during Nazarene procession

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – At least 1,485 devotees were given medical attention during the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, the Philippine Red Cross said.

PRC said at least 577 devotees had their blood pressure checked, while 860 sustained minor injuries.

At least 36 devotees sustained major injuries, while 12 had to be brought to the hospital.

The procession of the image ended at around 1:30 a.m., 18 hours after the iconic figure left its starting point at the Quirino Grandstand on Wednesday.

The Philippine National Police estimated that some 9 million devotees participated in one of the country's biggest Catholic events.

Last year's procession, considered to be one of the longest in history, lasted for 22 hours after one of the tires of the Black Nazarene's carriage broke down.

Now on its 406th year, the procession commemorated the feast of the "traslacion" or the transfer of the sacred image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila to the Quiapo Church in 1787.

The statue was brought to Manila by Augustinian priests from Mexico in 1607, and its dark color is believed to have been caused by it being slightly burnt in a fire aboard the Spanish galleon on which it was being transported. – report from Noel Alamar, dzMM